Timekeeping: Schofield Signalman

When we think of fine watches, our minds automatically shift to thoughts of the quaint villages and alpine vistas of Switzerland, or, increasingly, to Germany’s Glashütte region, where brands like A. Lange & Söhne and Glashütte Original hail. But what of merry old England? Given that some of the most renowned figures in horology have hailed from Old Blighty (ever heard of John Harrison or George Daniels?), perhaps its high time that we started shifting our thoughts across the Channel once more. Companies like Graham and Bremont have already taken the lead in this regard, but now we can add one more name to that list: Schofield.

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The brainchild of British lighthouse enthusiast, Giles Ellis, Schofield’s model line is currently limited to the Signalman GMT PR, which can be had in either polished or matte DLC-treated stainless steel. Under the hood is a high-grade Swiss Soprod 9335 movement with a power reserve complication at 12 o’clock and a 24-hr GMT register at 6 o’clock, the latter being operated by a recessed push-piece that has been ingeniously integrated into the lower right-hand lug. The whole shebang is meticulously assembled in Germany, after which the finished pieces are sent to Ellis in the UK for a final inspection.

Overall, the design of the Signalman can be described as elegantly masculine, with none of the chest-thumping that some brands devolve to when trying to express their inherent toughness; and tough these watches are with their 500 meter water-resistant, anti-magnetic cases and thick, domed sapphire crystals replete with inner anti-reflective coating. Of particular note is how the lighthouse-themed logo has been seamlessly combined with the power reserve indicator. It’s details like this that separate the wheat from chaff. Another plus is the size, which is generous at 44mm, but not clownishly oversized. Similarly, the 14mm thickness is “just right” for a watch of this nature.

The Signalman GMT PR is limited to a series of 300 pieces, while the Signalman DLC GMT PR is limited to just 100 pieces. With their clean lines, robust specifications and limited production, these watches are just the ticket for jet-setting Anglophiles who like to make a statement beyond simply being on time.

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